Attracting new businesses and supporting local employers were focus points during the meeting. Pueblo is the fifth of eight stops during the four-day tour that began on Friday. Hickenlooper is meeting with representatives from all 64 counties during his tour to promote his “bottom-up” economic development plan.

“We’re short funding for all things we hold precious,” Hickenlooper said. “We have no choice but to become pro-business.”

More than 100 local officials, business owners and community members from Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Lake, Las Animas and Pueblo counties met the governor at the Spradley Community Center in Pueblo.

Pueblo County is the only county in Colorado with a sales tax dedicated to economic development, according to Dan Centa, president of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation.

“Pueblo has a very grassroots approach to tourism and economic development,” Centa said.

Improving tourism is critical in promoting entrepreneurship in the region. Pueblo has focused its efforts on projects such as the Pueblo River Walk and downtown improvements, Centa said.

Stacey Rivera of Trinidad-Las Animas County Economic Development said she believed Hickenlooper’s strategy would create diversity in the region’s workforce and help promote the area’s tourism attractions, including fishing and hunting.

“He’s very approachable and it seems like he’s making good on his campaign promises,” Rivera said.

Several county representatives expressed concern for the region’s health care. Clint Cresawn of the Colorado Rural Health Center said health care can be an asset in economic development planning.

One family medical physician can bring as much as $1 million in wages, sales and benefits to a rural area, according to Cresawn.

“It’s important to show companies that are considering moving to Colorado that their employees will be well taken care of,” Cresawn said.

After the tour each county will create an economic development strategy. Those strategies will merge into 14 regional development plans in mid-May. Those plans will come together to create 14 regional plans that will eventually form an economic strategy for Colorado.

From Pueblo the governor will travel to Colorado Springs. Tomorrow the governor will wrap up the tour in Limon and Loveland.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.